The stochastic gravity-wave background: sources and detection

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current status and methods for detecting a stochastic gravitational wave background, discussing sources, detector data combination techniques, and the potential for cosmological insights.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of detection strategies, data analysis methods, and the prospects for observing relic gravitational radiation from cosmological sources.

Findings

Overview of detector sensitivity and data combination techniques

Assessment of potential cosmological sources and their detectability

Discussion of current limits and future detection prospects

Abstract

A world-wide effort is now underway to build gravitational wave detectors based on highly-sensitive laser interferometers. When data from detectors at different sites is properly combined, it will permit highly-sensitive searches for a stochastic background of relic gravitational radiation. These lectures (from the Les Houches School in October 1995) review the current status of this program, and discuss the methods by which data from different detectors can be used to make measurements of, or place limits on, a stochastic background. They also review possible cosmological sources and their potential detectability.